Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
November 21, 2010
Luke 8:4-15
“Responses to the Word”

Introduction  The parables of Jesus - para = alongside, ballo = to cast.  So a parable is to cast two ideas alongside of each other as an aid to understanding.  The Kingdom of Heaven is like... 

Notice this parable is about farming - plowing, sowing, growing, bearing fruit, harvesting.  Notice 4 different kinds of soil, cast alongside 4 different responses to the Word of God.  At this time of year we are grateful for the harvest, and we should also be grateful for God’s life giving, life changing Word.

4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:
 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.
 6 “Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.
 7 “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.
 8 “But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
 12 “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
 13 “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
 14 “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
 15 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

I. The Seed - the Word of God  v11

 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

A. What is the Word of God?  The powerful, spoken expression of His will, resulting in the execution of His commands.  Creation, Jesus, new Heaven and Earth.  He decides, speaks, things happen.

When His Word is spoken to us, the purpose is knowledge of His will, faith, relationship, salvation.

B. How is the Word of God like seed?

1. Has life in it - to live, grow, multiply, be effective

2. Is cast abroad, influence spreads, seeking places to be planted

3. Is dormant, has only potential until planted

3. Has requirements, after planted, to live, grow, multiply, be effective - sunshine, rain, condition of the soil:

a. Soft, receptive to seed - plowed

b. Free from rocks which would hinder the roots

c. Free from weeds which would choke the young plants

Jeremiah 4:3
 3  For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.

So, the Word of God is like seed.

II. The Soil - people who are exposed to the Word of God.  Notice the responses:

A. Hard - initial rejection  v5, 12

 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.

 12 “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

B. Shallow - delayed rejection  v6, 13

 6 “Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.

 13 “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

C. Overrun - competition with other things  v7, 14

 7 “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

 14 “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

D. Receptive  v8, 15

 8 “But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.”

 15 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Hebrews 3:7-8
7  Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts

III. Intended results of the Word growing in our lives

A. Faith and salvation  v12

 12 “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

sozo = rescued, healed, delivered, set free

B. Faith and joy  v13

 13 “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

C. Faith and fruit to maturity  v14

 14 “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

What is “fruit to maturity?”  Notice cares, riches, pleasures.

1.  Faith, not cares of this life.  Not saying we should not be concerned about the issues of our lives, but faith means we should not worry, be anxious over life’s problems.  We need to trust God, and God’s Word growing in our lives produces this fruit to maturity.

2. Faith, not riches of this life.  Not saying we shouldn’t try to make money, but that we should trust God to meet our needs.  Many people, if they are not trusting the Lord, fall into financial desperation, obsessing over riches.  The mature fruit of God’s Word growing in our lives is that we trust Him to meet our needs.

3. Faith not the pleasures of this life.  Does this mean if we receive God’s Word and it grows in us to maturity that we have no pleasures in this life?

Some Christians equate holiness with austerity.  Father Serra slept on a wooden plank.  I Surrender All - “worldly pleasures all forsaken, take me Jesus take me now, I surrender all.”

What are some of the pleasures of this life?

These are definitely some of the pleasures of this life, worldly pleasures.

If you enjoy these things, does that mean the Word of God is being choked out, that it’s not growing in you to produce good fruit?

No, all these things are fine in the context of faith in God, having a relationship with Him in the Christian life.  In fact, knowing God makes nice things even more pleasurable.

What Jesus is warning against is seeking your fulfillment in life apart from a relationship with Him - restless wandering, desperately trying to fill the spiritual void, finding your identity from the pleasures of life instead of a relationship with God.  Within the context of our faith in God, everything is even better:

So the intended results, the fruit of God’s Word growing in our lives to maturity is faith - that He will save us, give us joy, help us with our problems, that He will provide what we need, and that our ultimate fulfillment is in our relationship with Him, not seeking pleasurable experiences apart from Him.

IV. What works against the Word growing in our lives?

A. Initial resistance and the devil  v12

 12 “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

B. Delayed resistance, due to temptation, trials, tribulation, persecution  v13

 13 “But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

C. Allowing other things to remain in the garden, and then to compete with God and to crowd out our relationship with Him, seeking to replace His joy and fulfillment in our lives.  v14

 14 “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

These are things which resist, work against and compete with the Word of God in it’s intended purpose - faith, relationship with God, blessing, salvation.  Things which keep us from trusting Him, living in the context of Him - anxiety, financial desperation, seeking pleasure apart from Him, as a replacement for Him.  All true pleasure of life is acceptable in the context of relationship with God.

V. How do we prepare good soil?  v10, 15

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

 15 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

A. Plow - a noble and good heart, open to recognize and receive the Word of God

B. Remove stones - keep the Word no matter what with patience

C. Remove weeds - things which would seek to compete with and replace God’s Word

Conclusion  Hebrews 3:7, Jeremiah 4:3

Hebrews 3:7
7  Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts

Jeremiah 4:3
 3  For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.